Chapter 15

The first rays of the morning sun found two horsemen on the dusty leading road towards the neighboring city.

Mick looked all professional again in his all black clothes, his long hair held together and his black hat pulled down into his face.

Corey was riding beside him dressed as a white man also.

The young man fixed his eyes on the dusty road under his patched horse. He was lost in his thoughts. He was escorting Mick and also saying goodbye to him for a while... Or at least it all looked like that in the dawning sun.

"Spit it out kid, we are alone…" Mick glimpsed over at the gloomy Indian.

"Yeah… This just reminds me when we were kids and you taught me how to ride in a saddle. Because no one could know when it will be needed," Corey smiled looking back at his uncle. Because of the small age gap, he always felt it like Mick was his older brother. Sidney has been around for a few years before his father came back from the seas and settled down with him in the forming town. Maggie, Mick's twin sister left them earlier… Corey only had vague memories of her. But the Bear was always around and between the two worlds.

"If you do this... the people will know... You can no longer hide," he said even stopping his horse.

"I know, Coyote. Maybe it is time I do this. And… look at you... The Chief and High Shaman... mated with a pair. Maybe it's time for me to settle down too and help the people of the town alongside your Sheriff," Mick stopped too and looked his nephew in the eye. He had to smile. They shared the same deep blue eyes. "Blood always will be thicker," he said with a nod, ensuring his own self just as much. "I'm tired. I went through the training and did all those things to try to keep people close to me safe and in peace. Being a shadow and hidden in the role of a bounty hunter. Always traveling and chasing bad guys. In the end all roads led me back to this town, the tribe... Lost my sister and the man who was a father to me and a best friend. I have to put my feet down and stop this. I don't want to lose anyone else... or see the one person responsible for all this get off the hook."

Corey nodded. His uncle was really very serious about this step. "I am with you, Mick. We put that fucker in front of the jury," he added and nudged his horse to get them moving again.

From there it only took about half an hour to reach the other city's post office. That town was bigger already than Iowa – bigger buildings more streets and lots of people coming and going.

Coyote didn't even notice when he started to walk closer to Mick. After 'parking' their horses and continuing on foot, the young man started to feel overwhelmed by all the buzzing surroundings.

"It's okay, kiddo. Just rely on your instincts," Mick patted his back as they walked up to the counter of the office.

Pulling a badge out of his small pocket, Mick flashed a smile at the secretary. "Mick Thomson, Federal agent 967. I have a special delivery on the next chart."

***

Not knowing about Mick's secret identity or anything that happened in the town of Iowa, Jim and the two personal guards of the new Chief were busy moving the belongings of Coyote to the main hut.

Some others have already started to rebuild it from the outside, adding more room to the original Chief residence to be fit to use for the high shaman role too.

After the funeral and celebration, life went back to the everyday routine. Only the preparation and moving was left to finish.

"The old shaman lady will light the new fire with her spells, as it's a new era that begins. Coyote will have to call the spirits into the new place," Jay explained to the sheriff as they carried Corey's stuff into the redecorated hut.

Not wasting time, the guard and shaman trainee started to place the pots and small tokens at their new places right away.

The interior no longer looked like when it was Chief Shawn living in it. He, like all the people in the tribe accepted death as a part of life. The spirit world all around them held now the great man who looked after them well for long.

"It's strange a little... I think it will be even more strange for Coyote. He was born in this hut... Or what the original one was … It had been rebuilt already," he said just standing up and looking around with a heavy heart.

The physical exercise of packing helped Jim think through a lot of things and to process the many events of the last few days. Shawn's death, the funeral, the choosing of Corey as the new Chief and his own initiation to the tribe. Also, the news from Iowa and their plans to find a hold on Davis which would allow them to build a case against him in front of the jury. He knew that they had to be careful and have hard proof to be able to put him behind bars.

That was their main goal now and Jim hoped that while he was helping with moving Corey to the new hut, Chris, Sid, Mick, Coyote and even the Madame would be able to shake some things loose to fulfill their plan.

But what occupied Jim's mind the most aside of this were all the other changes going on. He could tell that it was hard for Corey to adjust to his new roles. Now he was going to have to lead a whole tribe too as a Chief as well. Double the amount of work and planning and stress, but Jim was positive that his pair would be able to do that. He was just worried that soon he has to go back to Iowa. He had his responsibilities too. He was the law after all.

He knew it was going to be hard for them to make things work between them and their towns. The being apart from each other part bothering Jim the most. Especially so at the beginning.

As Jim looked around once they more or less finished, leaving some shaman stuff for Corey to place where he wanted them, he sighed and looked at Jay after a nod, tucking a stray lock of his long otherwise tied together hair behind his ear.

"Yeah... But if I learned anything from being around Corey and the tribe is that life is about change and evolving. This is the next step for him and us in that. It's scary and new and unknown, yes. But I'm very sure that we will find our way. I'll help him and I know the tribe will too once I'm gone for a while," he said, sounding wiser and more collected than ever. But there was also determination in his hazel eyes as he was towering over the shorter man and looked around in the hut once more. "I think we are finished here. The rest awaits my pair."

Just like sensing that they were done, Corey turned towards the village on his horse. He left his faithful partner at the man who cares for the animals and took off the scarf and the cowboy hat. Enough of that masquerade…

The people greeted him with a smile and bows as he walked toward the center of the village. He lives there now, and all these people rely on him. Not just for healing and good hunt or as a contact to the spirits. He represents all of them.

Yeah… He will go in the town of Iowa next time in his tribal dress and marks as the Chief who is there in the name of every Iowan living there. He has to stand up for them. It was too much already what they had to bear.

The otherwise peaceful and young man entered the Chief's hut with those emotions and thoughts swirling inside him. Only the sight of his smiling pair made his heart less heavy.

Jim knew he had to be patient while he had time in the tribe before having to go back to Iowa. And that's what he swore to himself once Jay left him in the hut and the Sheriff tried to straighten things a bit more to kill some time and keep his worries at bay while waiting. After all, he knew that whatever Mick and Corey were doing was probably dangerous and he feared for both their lives. Frankly, he hated the idea that Corey left town with his uncle, but also knew that it was necessary for obvious reasons.

But after a while when he was just sitting near the fireplace smoking his pipe, he could've sworn that he felt when his pair got back. And true to his stronger intuitions, soon enough Corey entered the hut still in his western clothes. That made Jim smile and abandon his pipe in favor of standing up and closing his pair into his long arms to inhale his natural scent.

"Welcome back, my love. Where's Mick? Was your quest a success?" he asked, half-expecting the big guy to enter too in any minute, but it was just the two of them.

"Mick went to Chicago with his papers and all. He made me swore I don’t say anything because he wants to have a good laugh seeing your face when you learn about it…" Corey said hugging back and hiding against the bigger body. His lines were a little funny, but his voice was all... neutral and somewhat emotionless as he spoke.

"And yes. We got what he needed. That town is so big... I mean... I know you came from a much bigger one. But that 'windy city' is already too big for me," he said as he felt like melting out a little bit in the loving arms. "I have so much to see and learn still…" he added with a sigh.

"I see. I didn't expect anything less from Mick, to be honest," Jim chuckled a bit but then hugged his man a bit stronger, sensing the mood he was in. Next he spoke with a much softer tone as his tattooed arm moved to caress Corey's nape and back.

"It's okay, baby. You'll learn with time. Just like how I've been learning about living in Iowa and here. And I have tons of things to learn still. We'll do it both. I promise. Just... be a bit patient with yourself, okay? A lot has happened in a short time," he said, moving to slide his hands onto Corey's beloved face to cup it and gently turn it upwards so he could look into the sad blue eyes. "I'm here. You can tell me anything. You know that, right?"

The young shaman just looked into the kind hazel orbs for a good half minute. He tried to form it into English words what has been building up inside him for a while. Ever since… his father got shot in that cemetery…

"I feel like... Far… Drifting from how I was with the spirits and the signs. Like… not feeling... I don't know how to say it, Jim... I feel, of course. Like I love you and I am with the hunter God always. I just. Cold... I feel cold and emotionless a lot of times... Like… doing things but not feeling things. You understand any of that? " Corey asked almost in a begging voice being desperate to get this off himself and share it with his pair.

Jim could tell that the shorter redhead was struggling with putting his thoughts and feelings into words, but he was patient like he swore to himself. His eyes and expression stayed open and gentle to give Corey the support he obviously desperately needed.

"Yes, I understand, baby. I felt that way too in the past. Your emotions shut down to protect yourself from all the grief and bad things that have happened to you – or sometimes without any reason. Sometimes it's hard to even get up and do the simplest things, right? I know that feeling too. It's hard, but step by step... I promise it'll be better. Can I help you in any way now, my love?"

"Yeah... Like that... Now just... just show me my... our new home," he moved even closer to Jim and smiled a little, moving his head and asking for a kiss.

"Gladly, my love," Jim smiled warmly and leaned down to give Corey his kiss, which stayed gentle but was also deep, telling Corey about his unconditional love and how much he missed him already.

"Alright. We tried to do our best with Jay and V-man. They added some extra room for your shaman things. We tried to make it homey, but of course you can move around stuff as you see fit. We also left some things in the crates about which we weren't sure where to put," he let Corey go just to turn him to face the room while stepping behind him, his long arms going around the smaller body, planting a kiss against the soft growing hair at the side of Corey's head. "I hope you like what we did..." Jim said a bit nervously.

"I like it. I see you moved things to be more like in my old hut. I'm grateful for that, because this way my sleeping place is not where my parents slept..." Corey said after a good look around and no matter how he tried not to, his voice had a sad ring to his final thought.

"I like it, really. Even more that I know you helped in it. It is more the two of us now. Our home... You can... keep some of your clothes and spares here too... If you want..." he let out a sigh. "Mick has the papers and so you have to go back in a few days," Corey said and peeled himself out of the big arms to take Jim's hand and walk around and to the other room to look around.

"Yes, I wanted to make it look familiar and homey to you. Not something completely new," Jim admitted as he gently squeezed and rubbed the back of Corey's hand. "It is our home now, yes. Here in the tribe. But we'll have a home in Iowa too. Over the Sheriff Station. Although it's much smaller. But... I think it doesn't matter, because my home is where you are, Coyote. The rest is just details," Jim murmured, clearly very much in love.

"But next time I come back, I'll bring some of my clothes here too. And I'll have my native clothes here as well. I'll be here with you even when I'm back in Iowa..." he said, watching the profile of his love. "Yes, I'll have to go back, but now I'm here with you..."

"I love you, my Puma," Corey said turning to his man and hugging him strong again. "I don't know how me staying in Iowa would be... If not for me being Ioway, I'm not sure how they would take that I am your pair. Maybe we should not tell... and make it as... an official visit... Once we manage to fix the relationship between the two worlds," Corey thought out loud, just enjoying the closeness of his man.

"Let's try the bed…" he pulled the sheriff to lay with him and pushed his smaller body close, seeking shelter in the bigger one.

"I love you too..." Jim murmured once they were on the bear skins and he was holding Corey close too. "Yes, the town is going to be trickier and will take some time until we can do that 'official visit' thing. White men are less accepting as you know. It might take some more time until we could be openly together there. But I don't care if we can't. What matters is that we don't have to hide here among our people," he murmured, caressing the back of his small man. Not a boy anymore, but a real man.

"Tell me about your city. The big one. The trip today made me think of how life is at such places," Corey asked Jim with honest curiosity. He wanted to know more about his pair. It was always easier to focus on others than on someone's own issues…"You think you'll go back there one day? Or have no one to go back to?"

Chuckling a bit, Jim kissed into Corey's short but growing and already a bit curly hair. "It's noisy and stinky with lots of tall buildings, smoke and people and traffic and running around, working and chasing money. It can get quite overwhelming to those who aren't used to it. But it has a good side too. Like museums with rare paintings and artifacts from the past and our day. Theaters where actors perform all kinds of plays. Music clubs, libraries with endless rows of books, new technical inventions.... There's even a big park and a zoo with exotic animals in the middle of the city...." Jim hummed, thinking back on his hometown with a pang of homesickness, but it went away just as quickly as it came.

"I loved the theaters and museums and music clubs the most. There are a few... let's say underground or secret clubs too for people like you and I to find company. I sometimes ventured to those too. But frankly... it's much more peaceful and beautiful here. Even with the tough guys and fights around. And I don't know... I might go back there one day either on official business or to visit my family. But I'm not that close to them. I send letters just to my mother."

"It must be hard to be double spirited in those cities. You don't even tell your families, Mick said… I'm sorry, Puma," Coyote moved to be able to peck his man's lips. "I was just thinking because of the business we did with Mick. That you were sent here by your office. And... what if they send you somewhere else after a few years?" That thought really put its roots deep into the young man's soul. Maybe that was one of his problems. Trying to think and rationalize things in the white man's way...

"I need to get back to my own world…" he said and stood up with a sudden decision and practically tore off the western clothes to pull an embroidered long tunic over his head. "Would you share the night with me at the spirit caves?"

"Yes, it was hard to find someone like you back there. And even if you did, you had to keep it a secret. Even before your family. In my case it kinda turned out and that's why I was advised to accept this position, as I said. The rumors got into my father's ears too. And it was better that I took the job..." Jim murmured with some sadness in his voice. It wasn't a coincidence that he sent letters only to his mother. But at least she responded a couple of times.

"My love, fret not. If they want to send me away, I'll tell them that I don't want to go. If they insist, I will quit and come live here with you and our tribe. I have it all planned out already," Jim smiled and pecked Corey's lips back.

Then it was as if his pair got enlightened and Jim just watched him change clothes kinda amused. Straightening up to his full height still in his tribal clothes, the sheriff smiled at Corey and nodded.

"With pleasure. I think it will do good for both of us. Let's get going, my love."

***

Back in the dusty town of Iowa, deputy Sid Wilson was restless. It was strange from the otherwise always calm, maybe too calm and chill man.

It was even more strange as he was on his way to the church on fast legs. He kept looking around like… a weasel... Scanning his surroundings.

Going around the church, he knocked quietly on the door of the priest’s residence and slipped inside like an eel.

"Hi, Reverend Chris! He is not here yet... I see," he started about the lack of tall black dressed bounty hunters as he dropped himself into one of the chairs in Chris’ living room.

“Hello, Sidney. No... Not yet. I am hoping the other two will come to our meeting too," the taller man sighed.

"Yeah… Inside men would be good for the Bear's plan," Sid hummed.

Chris just nodded in agreement. To get a hold of his anxiousness he rather brought some biscuits to munch on with the deputy while they waited.

"No whiskey, huh Chris?" Sid complained but took one happily nonetheless.

"No. Only wine on Sundays," the priest answered and they both burst out in laughter.

Growing up in the same small town sure made a lot of allies for adulthood, who remember the pranks and deeds of their younger age.

"I wish it will be something like it was then… I am too much of an ideologist, right?"

"Well... Last time I checked your job was to be exactly that. So just keep on praying for us all, Chris. Maybe someone is listening," Sid giggled taking a bite from another biscuit.

"I certainly hope so as I've put my whole life on that concept," Chris added with a smile.

Just then there was a quiet knock on the door, drawing the men's attention there. Exchanging a long look with Sid, Chris stood and went there to open it.

Frankly, Fieldy and Munky weren't so sure about this, but after talking things over, they agreed and felt that they should go and see what the Reverend could offer to them. Even if it was some religious bullshit they didn't really believe in, maybe he could have some good words to them so they wouldn't feel so miserable – especially Munky.

"Come on in. I'm glad you two came in the end," Chris smiled at them encouragingly and opened the door wider to let the two bandits in.

They of course stopped in their tracks seeing the Deputy sitting there munching on his biscuit, covering his shirt and vest with morsels in the process.

"Oh... Maybe we should come back at another time..." Fieldy blurted out, already wanting to back out of the room, feeling nervous from the presence of the man of law.

"Nah. Have some biscuits. I am not officially here now either. We’ve been working together with the Reverend and some others for a while. Good old late Sheriff too…" Sid sighed at the end, making the two men tense up more.

"Yeah... Sorry about… him…" Munky said and cleared his throat still feeling the need to flee.

"Really relax. We want to give a helping hand to you two," Chris cut in and moved a bit behind the two bandits. "Everyone deserves a second chance. We can see how you are suffering under... your boss' cruel ways too. This town was a shelter back in a few generations. My and many locals’ grandparents were outlaws seeking to be far enough from the law. The Deputy's parents were pirates from overseas. People formed this community to be safe and start a new life. The Indians always helped them. It is very sad how everything has changed." Chris as he spoke managed to guide the two more at ease man further inside to take a seat.

"Yup. All true that. Been keeping me eyez on yous. The Mayor before Jonathan was his own grandfather who came from the south and started to change things. We can offer you a place to live, like anyone else. If ya join us and help a bit to get a hold on that scum," Sid took the line from his friend.

Munky exchanged a look with Fieldy as they were sitting next to each other then sighed. "It's been rough for a while, I admit. But if you want a confession from us and to give up our boss, you'll have to be more specific, I'm afraid. We might be simple, but we didn't start the trade yesterday..."

"Exactly, my man," Fieldy chimed in. "We respect the past and what you are trying to say, but we aren't stupid. You're a man of law with the new Sheriff. We would need some reassurance that our names would be cleared if we helped you."

"My papa was a pirate captain. Not started trading yesterday either. What is the reassurance that you not going straight to yer boss and tell about us all to be killed off? We promise. In exchange you promise it too. Trust is a must in such new starts... We won't arrest ya, and talk to the town folks that you changes yours way. It's all the town we are talking on behalf," Sid said with a huge amount of clearance that somehow shocked the bandits. They were used to an always drunk and disoriented Deputy.

Chris knew all what was hiding in Sidney, of course. And after that speech he smiled at the short man very proudly. "Um… Yes. We trust you with the lives and wellbeing of all the people in town. No legal charges will be made about anything you have done ever since you’d arrived."

What the Deputy was saying about his ancestry and the promise of not being charged made the two bandits look at each other again.

"We should... consider this," Munky finally said quietly to his longtime friend and accomplice.

"He's been getting out of control lately," Fieldy nodded, rubbing his beard and taking off his cowboy hat, clearly in a turmoil about what to do.

"Yeah. He's been getting more violent and even more marching through everyone who would object him," Munky agreed, looking at the Reverend then the Deputy. "And he went behind our backs too. Murdering my brother without us knowing about it..."

"Our... other ally could dig up something against him. We are waiting for him to share that with us. But as we said... we kinda grew up together and it was a bit rough but a good place. People sticking together and the Ioways were good neighbors. It is hard for us too to see what it is now," Chris started, but then without a knock or anything Mick marched in. Followed by a layer of dust from the road as he closed the door quickly behind himself.

He nodded to them all. Not even minding the two gangsters sitting there... Taking off his hat and side bag, he dropped into one of the chairs. "Chris, be a good Christian and bring me a glass of water, please," he huffed clearly tired.

On the other hand the two bandits minded the Headhunter very much so… Fear came back into their dark eyes as they looked at each other swallowing.

"Right away," Chris said and stood to busy himself with serving the new arrival with some clear and cooled water. Even he found the situation kinda amusing, but he quickly regained his control and while placing a glass and a jug of water in front of the Bounty Hunter, he looked at Fieldy and Munky.

"Don't be alarmed. Mick is the one Sid talked about. He's been helping us for a long time."

To that Mick nodded and quickly drank the glass of water before reaching for the jug for a refill. "Don't shit your pants now," he snorted. "This time we seem to be on the same side."

The two just swallowed and nodded. Of course, to Mick's utter amusement. "I have my old wanted order refreshed. I know Davis is gathering his wealth from taking the land of the small farmers and selling it to the railway company, or renting it and so they pay him money for the trains running through those lands. I have all the orders and documents from Washington," he explained on a calm voice while the two men opposite him turned more and more pale.

"They can be cleaned?" Sid asked to ease the situation.

"Yes. Here are the forms," Mick fetched two papers with many signatures and stamps and laid them before Munky and Fieldy. "If you help us and the law, I and the federal agency will give you shelter and a chance to start new all clean. Oh, and I can offer that," Mick smirked smugly and placed his Federal agent badge also on the table.

It seemed that the air froze in the Reverend's home for a long moment as the meaning of that badge sank in. The surprise and shock were evident on the bandits’ faces as they leaned a bit closer to read the papers laid out in front of them.

It was a good deal. The best they could get, they knew.

"Give us a minute..." Munky said and stood to walk to the far corner of the room with his accomplice to quickly talk things through as they knew this was a one-time only offer.

Meanwhile Mick started smugly munching on a biscuit too, winking at Sid, who just chuckled, making the Reverend roll his eyes like someone who knew those two too well.

"Alright. We talked it over with Fieldy and we'll accept your terms..." Munky said after they sat back onto their chars.

But before anyone else could react to that, the door opened after one single knock and the Madame with a healing split lip slid in.

"I apologize for being late, gentlemen. Something came up," she said on a soft voice. But as she looked over the gathered men, she felt something else from surprise. It was rising anger. And it was coming from the buff bounty hunter.

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